Base History \ Arrival

Fort Dix and McGuire AirForce Base are located in beautiful southern central New Jersey, approximately 15 miles from Trenton, 50 minutes from Philadelphia and Atlantic City, and 90 minutes from New York City. The distance from Dix and McGuire to Washington DC is about 154 miles. Dix is located in Pemberton Township and McGuire in North Hanover Township both in Burlington County New Jersey.

Lakehurst is located in the Lakehurst Borough in Ocean County New Jersey, approximately 25 minutes from Dix and McGuire. It is located on the eastern portion ofJoint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ, formerly known as Naval Air Engineering Station (NAES) Lakehurst.

BRAC Status: The 2005 Base Realignment and Closure legislation directed the Department of Defense to realign 26 separate installations into 12 joint base installations. Among this was Recommendation 146, establishing Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. The Vice Chiefs of Staff signed a comprehensive Memorandum of Agreement between the three installations April 10, 2009 establishing Initial Operational Capability for JB MDL; the joint base reached Full Operational Capability Oct. 1, 2009.

Cost of Living: The cost of off-base housing and car insurance is extremely high in this area. Do not assume your insurance company will be willing or able to insure your automobile in New Jersey. Compared to the rest of the country, Burlington County's cost of living is 8.95% higher than the U.S. average. Lakehurst's cost of living is 8.46% higher than the U.S. average.

Directions

Traveling to Joint Base McGuire-Dix Lakehurst (McGuire and Dix)

Location & Background

JB MDL (McGuire and Dix) is located southern New Jersey in a lovely, rural agricultural area; the least densely populated part of the state. There is no pollution, no traffic and very little crime in the area. JB MDL has an easy access to the New Jersey Turnpike and Interstate 295 and the metropolitan cities of New York and Philadelphia.

From Philadelphia International Airport

Airport Shuttle Service

After picking-up your baggage from the Baggage Claim area stop by the ground transportation desk, ask for the Rapid Rover Shuttle Service. Drivers accept Visa, Master Card and American Express.

Head east Take the ramp on the left to I-95 N 0.7mi
Keep left at the fork, follow signs for Philadelphia/I-95 N and merge onto I-95 N
Take exit 19 for Interstate 76 toward Walt Whitman Br/Packer Avenue
Merge onto I-76 E Entering New Jersey
Take exit 1B to merge onto I-295 N toward Trenton
Exit onto Florence Rd/Rte 656
Continue straight onto Columbus Rd
Continue onto E Main St
Continue onto Mt Pleasant Rd
Turn right onto Wrightstown Georgetown Rd
Continue on road after slight left and you'll be on McGuire Access Hwy
Continue on to Main entrance to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst
After passing through gate make the first left before the circle into the parking area.
Follow the parking area back around to the front buildings and you'll find Personnel.

For Army Personnel:

Head east Take the ramp on the left to I-95 N 0.7mi
Keep left at the fork, follow signs for Philadelphia/I-95 N and merge onto I-95 N
Take exit 19 for Interstate 76 toward Walt Whitman Br/Packer Avenue
Merge onto I-76 E Entering New Jersey
Take exit 1B to merge onto I-295 N toward Trenton
Exit onto Florence Rd/Rte 656
Continue straight onto Columbus Rd
Continue onto E Main St
Continue onto Mt Pleasant Rd
Turn Right on Route 68
Continue on 68 to enter Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (limited Hours)
Through the gate take 3rd exit off circle on Ft. Dix Road
Travel to next traffic circle and take the first right off circle - Delaware Ave
Follow Delaware to Bldg 5418 on your left side about 1 mile up.
Parking is on back side of building.

Military and Family Support Center (MFSC) is located at 3435 Broidy Road near the exchange.

When departing the Newark International Airport follow signs for NJ Turnpike
Proceed south on NJ Turnpike
Exit at Bordentown, Exit 7
Bear left after the toll to Dix
Take Route 206 South for approximately 1/4 mile
Turn left onto Route 68
Proceed for about 8 miles - this will bring you to Route 68 JB MDL Gate and onto the checkpoint.
Continue to circle. Take first right off circle onto 4th Street.
At blinking light (old Walson Army Hospital will be in front of you) turn right onto New Jersey Avenue
Take left onto 8th Street
Soldiers - Take a left onto Delaware Avenue, go to 5418 Delaware Avenue for in-processing.
Airmen - continue on 8th Street and make a left onto Texas Avenue, take second right off circle to Wrightstownn Road. Make a right at traffic light onto Cookstown Road.
JB MDL checkpoint will be to your right.

From John F. Kennedy International Airport (about two-hour drive to JB MDL)

There is no military or direct commercial transportation from JFK to JB MDL. Princeton Air porter operates a scheduled run from JFK IAP to Newark IAP. From Newark IAP travelers en route to JB- MDL can switch to the New Jersey Transit bus (see NJ Transit Bus information mentioned above ).

Directions Driving From Washington, D.C.

Take I-95 to New Jersey
After departing Delaware Memorial Bridge look for 295N signs
Stay on 295N exiting at Exit 40A - Moorestown, NJ to Route 38 East
Stay on Route 38 East through Mount Laurel, Hainesport, Mount Holly to Pemberton for about 15 miles
Road will narrow to one lane prior to turn at traffic light in Pemberton
Turn left onto Route 616 (Pemberton-Wrightstown Rd)
Proceed for 4-5 miles bearing left after the blinking light to the traffic light at Route 68
At the light make a right to the Dix checkpoint
Proceed through the checkpoint
Take first right off circle onto 4th Street to traffic light (old Walson Army Hospital will be in front of you)
Turn right onto New Jersey Avenue.

Trenton Amtrak Train Station

Call 1-800-872-7245 for Amtrak information. There is no NJ Transit bus transportation from the Trenton Train Station to JB MDL, however local taxi service is available. Proximity to site is about 25 minutes.

Traveling to Joint Base McGuire-Dix Lakehurst (Lakehurst)

There are no mass transit services directly to the Lakehurst. For information on Public Transit in NJ, visit the NJ Transit website.

Parkway South to Exit 88 (Route 70 West)
Follow signs on route 70 West to Route 547 and turn right (Gulf station on right, McDonalds on left)
Bear left down 547 and proceed about ¼ mile to main gate (second gate-after the industrial gate)

From Philadelphia's 30th Street Train Station

East on Market Street to fifth street
Left on Fifth - two blocks to Ben Franklin Bridge ($2 toll)
Cross bridge onto Admiral Wilson Blvd. (Route 30-to Cherry Hill)
2½ miles on Admiral Wilson Blvd. To Route 70 East
Stay on route 70 east approximately 45 miles
Turn left at route 547 (There will be a traffic circle two lights before the turn with the Mike-O-Neal motel on the left. At
547, Gulf station on left and McDonalds on the right.)
Bear left on 547 and proceed about ¼ mile to main gate (second gate-after the industrial gate)

Route 2 to 301 east or north
301 (about 896E (4miles) to 13N
13N (16 miles) to Delaware River Bridge ($2)
Immediately as you exit bridge, get on 295N
Route 295 North to Route 195 East (follow signs & stay right when nearing 195 East)
Route 195 East to exit 16. Left onto Route 537
Route 537 to Route 571 (2nd light). Right onto Route 571
Route 571 to Route 547 (right at 2nd light-Ridgeway Liquor)
Proceed to main gate

What to do when You Arrive at the Front Gate

When you arrive at the front gate, show proper ID and seek guidance from Gate Guard. You may be expected to detour to the Pass & ID office during working hours to produce appropriate paperwork for the vehicle that you are driving (registration, insurance, etc.)